The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (263 page)
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Authors: John Andrew Simpson,
BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs
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head
see
the FISH always stinks from the head downwards
;
where MACGREGOR sits is the head of the table
;
you cannot put an OLD head on young shoulders
;
a STILL tongue makes a wise head
;
SWEEP the house with broom in May, you sweep the head of the house away
;
TWO heads are better than one
;
YORKSHIRE born and Yorkshire bred, strong in the arm and weak in the head
.
the FISH always stinks from the head downwards
;
where MACGREGOR sits is the head of the table
;
you cannot put an OLD head on young shoulders
;
a STILL tongue makes a wise head
;
SWEEP the house with broom in May, you sweep the head of the house away
;
TWO heads are better than one
;
YORKSHIRE born and Yorkshire bred, strong in the arm and weak in the head
.
HEAR all, see all, say nowt, tak' all, keep all, gie nowt, and if tha ever does owt for nowt do it for thysen
A proverb now traditionally associated with Yorkshire, with numerous variant forms. The precepts make up the caricature of the Yorkshireman as seen by detractors: canny, dour (
say nowt
=say nothing), grasping (
gie nowt
=give nothing), and selfish (
if tha ever does owt for nowt do it for theysen
= if you ever do anything for nothing do it for yourself).
a
1400
Proverbs of Wisdom
in
Archiv
(1893) XC. 246
Hyre and se, and say nowght. Be ware and wyse, and lye nought .. and haue thy will.
1623
Spared Hours of Soldier
276
Heare all, see all, and hold thee still If peace desirest with thy will.
1913
Letter
1 Feb. (1962) I. 183
It seems queer, that you do it and get no profit. I should think you've forgotten the Yorkshire proverb, ‘An' if tha does owt for nowt, do it for thysen.’
1925
Notes & Queries
412
The famous Yorkshire motto .. is invariably recited with an air of superior bravado, and will be found upon mugs, post cards, etc. The authentic version, I believe, is, ‘Hear all, see all, say now't, tak all, keep all, gie now't, and if tha ever does ow't for now't do it for thysen.’
1984
English Companion
265
‘Hear all, see all, say nowt; sup all, eat all, pay nowt’, is said by detractors to be the Yorkshireman's motto.
self-preservation
;
speech and silence
say nowt
=say nothing), grasping (
gie nowt
=give nothing), and selfish (
if tha ever does owt for nowt do it for theysen
= if you ever do anything for nothing do it for yourself).
a1400
Proverbs of Wisdom
in
Archiv
(1893) XC. 246
Hyre and se, and say nowght. Be ware and wyse, and lye nought .. and haue thy will.
1623
Spared Hours of Soldier
276
Heare all, see all, and hold thee still If peace desirest with thy will.
1913
Letter
1 Feb. (1962) I. 183
It seems queer, that you do it and get no profit. I should think you've forgotten the Yorkshire proverb, ‘An' if tha does owt for nowt, do it for thysen.’
1925
Notes & Queries
412
The famous Yorkshire motto .. is invariably recited with an air of superior bravado, and will be found upon mugs, post cards, etc. The authentic version, I believe, is, ‘Hear all, see all, say now't, tak all, keep all, gie now't, and if tha ever does ow't for now't do it for thysen.’
1984
English Companion
265
‘Hear all, see all, say nowt; sup all, eat all, pay nowt’, is said by detractors to be the Yorkshireman's motto.
self-preservation;
speech and silence
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